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19th-century Fishers farm house at risk of demolition

19th-century Fishers farmhouse at risk

Since its construction in 1861, an Italianate-style brick farmhouse at the corner of 106th Street and Kincaid Drive in Fishers has survived the elements and, more recently, the same kind of rapid growth and development that has come to the rest of the town. Due to its proximity to a proposed interchange at I-69 and 106th Street, the home's future is uncertain. Below, aerial imagery taken in 1936 and 2014 shows how much the area has developed.

This historic farm house on the corner of 106th Street and Kincaid Drive in Fishers, known as the Kincaid house, is expected to be torn down to make way for a proposed I-69 interchange.
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Fishers farm house at risk of demolition
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Hamilton County preservationists are trying to halt the demolition of a 153-year-old Fishers farm house.

Thompson Thrift, the property owner and development firm, planned to tear down the house earlier this month. Developers stopped the demolition after local residents and organizations raised concerns about the historical significance of the 19th-century Italianate-style brick house.

"There are not many examples of that kind of architecture anymore in Fishers, even in Hamilton County," said Mike Corbett, treasurer of the Noblesville Preservation Alliance. "It is a great representation of our history. We shouldn't just be tearing those things down."

The property on the corner of 106th Street and Kincaid Drive is part of a 70-acre chunk of land that Thomas Thrift intends to propose for a tech, office, and retail development project, said Ashlee Boyd, Thompson Thrift's senior vice president.

Boyd, city officials and preservationists met Monday afternoon to discuss the future of the house. They agreed that Thompson Thrift would delay the demolition a few weeks to give local organizations time to relocate the house, Corbett said.

"It was a nice, civil meeting," he said. "We're glad that they're willing to work with us."

Supporters of the house plan to meet early next week to prepare their next move.

"They know we want to save the building. It's on us," he said. "It's our responsibility to meet and start talking to people in the community."

The house was purchased by Loma E. Kincaid, founder of L.E. Kincaid & Sons meat market, after moving there in 1934. He went on to purchase more than 600 acres of land in the Fishers area, his grandson, Dan Kincaid, said. The house eventually was passed down to Dan Kincaid, who was working on restoring it before selling it in 2013. The exterior remains in strong shape, though the interior has been stripped and vandalized over time.

The house was examined by state officials in the fall due to its proximity to a proposed Interstate 69 interchange at 106th Street. John Carr, team leader of structures review for Federal Highway Administration and Indiana Department of Transportation projects, said his team deemed the house eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Many residents who found out about the demolition plans expressed concern over losing what they consider a significant piece of Fishers' past. A post on the Indiana Landmarks Facebook page about the demolition delay had more than 15,000 views and several comments from residents supporting the house's preservation, said Mark Dollase, vice president of preservation for Indiana Landmarks.

"We have to stop tearing down our history! (I)'m so glad to hear this was saved," Indianapolis resident Samantha Combs wrote on Facebook.

Emily Compton, a member of the Noblesville Preservation Alliance, also saw the post from Indiana Landmarks. She decided to get involved in the talks to save the house.

Keeping the house at its current location appears to be the least viable option, Kincaid said. The house is surrounded by commercial properties and the area will only become more crowded when the proposed I-69 highway exit is constructed, he said.

Thompson Thrift originally planned to demolish the house and allow local organizations to salvage the brick and timber and re-purpose it in new construction in Fishers, Boyd said. He also said he would consider an "actionable plan" to relocate the home.

"Because there's been a request and some interest in the home, we're taking time to vet the inquires that are out," Boyd said.

Preservationists want to see the house saved or relocated.

"I'm not real interested in talking about salvaging," Dollase said. "What we want is to see if there is a future for the building and having those conversations with the property owner, with the town and seeing what their reactions are."

Moving the house would be "too bad for Fishers," Compton said, "but I do believe that we can all work together to find a new place or a new purpose for it."